New-look Hoerner turning heads at Cubs spring training
From Nico Hoerner's first spring at bat - a sharp double to center field against the Royals - it seemed like something was different.
When he blasted a home run Friday against Cleveland, it officially became a sensation. Hoerner is now 7-for-8 at the plate this spring with a home run and 2 doubles.
Maybe this is just an exhibition hot streak, but the Cubs second baseman looks like a different player this year, one who is stronger and smacking the ball all over the field.
"Yeah, it's exciting for sure," Cubs manager David Ross said Friday. "He's come in with something to prove, you can see it all over his actions. It's hard not to get excited.
"But this is baseball and the season hasn't even started yet, so we've got a long way to go, but good signs of hard work paying off. It's pretty evident that he's in a really good place."
Hoerner got off to a fast start during last summer's shortened season, but eventually finished with a .222 average, no home runs and 13 RBI.
The Cubs' 2018 first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) out of Stanford had a quick rise through the minors, skipping Triple A before making his big-league debut on Sept. 9, 2019. During the offseason, Hoerner spent most of his time in Chicago and worked out at Wrigley Field.
"He traveled home a couple times to California, but really spent his time in Chicago working with (strength coach) Shane (Wallen), trying to get stronger, faster," Ross said. "Worked with Chris Valaika on some mechanical cues for his swing and figuring out where he was maybe blocking himself off a little bit with his lower half and what he was able to do. He put in a ton of work, really on every aspect of his game."
Besides getting stronger, Hoerner made some changes to his batting stance and whatever he did, seems to have worked.
"We talk a lot now about where the lower half is connected with the hands and everything works together," Ross said. "It looks like where he's at right now, just everything is in sync.
"Even when he's late, the barrel's in the zone a long time. He times it up as the at-bat goes. You've seen a lot of two-strike hits from him, I think because of those things. The timing's coming within the at-bat."
Heading into the spring, the Cubs were expecting a three-way battle for playing time at second base between Hoerner, David Bote and Ildemaro Vargas. The Cubs also reportedly agreed to terms on a minor league deal with 10-year veteran Eric Sogard, though it hasn't yet been announced officially.
From what we've seen so far, the second-base race might already be over. Ross did say he plans to continue using Kris Bryant in left field at times, which would give Bote or Vargas some starts at third base. Vargas has also looked good at the plate, going 4-for-7 with 2 doubles through Friday.
Shortstop Javy Baez was hit by a pitch on the right forearm during Friday's 10-4 loss to Cleveland, but the Cubs said X-rays showed it was just a bruise.